Since winning a state football title with Cherokee last December, Isaiah Evans has noticed changes in his life, starting with the meals at his favorite local Mexican restaurant.

The steaming plates of fajitas or enchiladas the senior running back normally orders at Rancho Viejo are rarely paid for out of his own pocket. Plenty of people want to pick up the check.

“It was kind of crazy at first,” said Evans, who rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown in the 21-13 win over North Duplin in the 1A championship game. “But people were just really excited and wanted to show their appreciation. It’s a great feeling to know that it meant that much to them.”

The gratitude was a long time coming for the Cherokee players, who finally joined an elite fraternity among their own conference.

It may have been the Braves’ first championship in school history, but it was the 36th title collected by the Smoky Mountain Conference.

Just in the past decade, teams from the SMC have won six state titles while appearing in 10 championship games. Since 1972 – when N.C teams began playing in an East-West title game to determine a champion – the SMC has collected 32 championship trophies. Andrews won its four state titles before 1972.

The question for the 2018 season isn’t if the SMC will be represented in the state title game, but rather, which team.

Murphy returns as a conference favorite after falling a game short last year of its sixth title appearance since 2010. The Bulldogs won in 2011, 2013 and 2016.

David Gentry announced in February that he would return as Murphy's coach for his 35th season, keeping alive his hopes of reaching 400 career wins and another championship.

Gentry's record stands at 393-184. He could reach his 400th win Sept. 28 in a home game against Andrews.

"Getting to play for a guy like that always makes you feel like you have a chance to win," Murphy senior lineman Hunter Shope said. "There is a lot of pressure playing on our team. It's either state or nothing."

It was Swain County last season that surprised the conference with a 29-27 win over Murphy that forced an eventual first-place tie between the Maroon Devils, Murphy and Cherokee.

Swain County is the only team in the conference with a winning record against Murphy.

Murphy's Devonte Murray is tackled while running the ball during their game against Swain County ...more

Murphy's Devonte Murray is tackled while running the ball during their game against Swain County Friday, October 20, 2017.

Matt Burkhartt/mburkhartt@citize

"Everyone knows how tough this conference is," Swain County senior Nolan Brown said. "When you get some of those top teams against each other, it's always going to be a dogfight."

Swain won the most recent of its eight titles in 2011, defeating Ayden-Grifton 20-14.

Robbinsville is only four years removed from its 2014 undefeated state championship run. Behind the area's top returning rusher in junior Rylee Anderson, the Black Knights -- who have won an area-best 14 state titles -- look to be the dark horse in the SMC in 2018.

"This is mountain ball," said Robbinsville senior Landon Orr, who replaces Alex Bridges at quarterback this season. "Some other schools try to juke you, but here in the mountains, you just lower your head and try and knock someone out. Not everyone can hang with what we do."

While Murphy, Cherokee, Swain County and Robbinsville historically own the conference's top spots, lower-tier teams like Rosman, Hayesville and Andrews feel confident they can break through.

Only Rosman and Hayesville return starting quarterbacks from last year's SMC teams.

"It's such a tough conference to move up in," said Rosman senior quarterback Luke Stewart, who passed for 2,119 yards last season. "But we feel like we have the talent to make some real noise this year."

Evans rushed for 1,429 yards in his junior season adding 21 touchdowns on 192 carries for the 1A state champions. With leading rusher Tye Mintz gone to graduation, Evans will take an even bigger role in the offense this year.

Breakdown:

The celebration in Cherokee lasted throughout the school year, as the community reveled in its first football state title. The Braves defeated North Duplin 21-13 in December to clinch the 1A championship after finishing in a three-way conference tie with Murphy and Swain County. Now in 2018, the expectations remain just as high for Cherokee and fifth-year coach Kent Briggs. Junior Bobby Crowe is tasked with replacing all-conference quarterback Tye Mintz, who combined for over 3,700 yards of offense last season. The Braves will lean on running back Isaiah Evans, who rushed for over 1,4000 yards as a junior and wideout Cade Mintz - a rising junior who hauled in 47 catches for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. Isaiah Armachain, Jake Layno will play big roles on a defense that returns seven starters and gave up an average of 18 points a game, including a conference best 16 points a game.

Coach Gentry expects Nelson to take most of the snaps at quarterback this season as well as play as a defensive back. Nelson (795 yards, 49 catches) was the team's leading wide receiver last season.

Breakdown: The Murphy Bulldogs are used to entering the season with state title expectations, and 2018 is no different. With the return of coach David Gentry, who will coach his 35th season at Murphy, the Bulldogs have high hopes of a second championship in the last three years. Their strength on offense comes from a stable of running backs, including Slade McTaggart (808 yards), KJ Allen (629 yards) and Devonte Murray (653 yards). Last year's leading receiver Micah Nelson is slated to be the team's new quarterback, but may split time with transfer Goerge Vining, who comes to N.C from Macon, Georgia. Vining will also play as a defensive back. Senior linebacker Chase Roberts returns on defense as a four-year starter. Roberts fronts an experienced linebacker core that includes McTaggart. Senior Hunter Shope - at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds - will be the Bulldogs leader on both the offensive and defensive line.

Cook stepped into the quarterback role mid-season last year for Hayesville and quickly learned the offense, finishing with 645 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He’ll be the leader for the Yellow Jackets this season.

Breakdown:

It's been over a decade (2007) since the Yellow Jackets posted a winning record, but in his third season as head coach, Kenneth Dockery has made noticeable improvements to the program. Hayesville returns 15 starters from last year's 3-8 team that won two conference games against Rosman and Andrews. They are one of two conference teams to return its quarterback in Dwain Cook, who took over midway through 2017 and became a reliable starter. Hayesville though, did lose two key senior running back and will look to replace them with Payton Krieger and Ethan Smith. Krieger also returns as the team's top receiver after hauling in 30 catches for 295 yards last year. Adam Leek and Jesse Allison return to lead the offensive and defensive line.

Before missing the final four games of the season with an injury, Chappell was one of the leading receivers in the area, hauling in 757 yards and 37 catches in eight games. With Luke Stewart returning at quarterback, Chappell could eclipse 1,000 yards this season.

Breakdown:

Rosman struggled to find wins in 2017, but their offense showed signs of greatness against the top teams from the SMC, including dropping 21 points on eventual state champions Cherokee. The Tigers return eight players from that offense, including senior quarterback Luke Stewart (2,119 yards, 15 TDs, 15 INTs), running back Thomas Collins (1,070 yards, 4 TDs), Marcus Stamey (414 total yards), Hooper Thomas (223 receiving yards) and Samuel Chappell (757 yards). Senior linebacker Kayne Smith will be the focal point of Rosman’s defense which returns six players from last season, including Thomas and Stamey. Smith led the team with 8.5 sacks last season.

Swain County will rely on Brown to be the leader on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for a young team.

Breakdown:

A year after surprising the conference with a win over Murphy and forcing a three-way first place tie in the SMC, Swain County will return a young team looking to make waves again in 2018. The Maroon Devils have only seven seniors on the roster this season, and will call on either junior Connor Hyatt or sophomore Damien Lossiah to take over the quarterback position left vacant by graduated senior Brodie Bowman. The strength for Swain County lies in its offensive and defensive line, anchored by junior Nick Millsaps and Jake Langston. Sophmore Bryce Sain (385 yards) and Ian Brooks (285 yards) will return as the Maroon Devils' best option at running back.

Coach James Phillips calls Sheppard the “best all-around athlete on the team” and said he’s seen a lot of improvement from him in the off-season. Sheppard will be a leader on and off the field for a young Andrews team.

Breakdown:

The focus of the off-season for the Andrew Wildcats has been to change the perception that they are an “easy-win” in the competitive Smoky Mountain Conference after one conference win in the last two years. They return five starters from last year, and have an opportunity to change the mentality with mostly new blood. The Wildcats have some talented starters returning, including senior Cody Mathis, who led the team in receiving with 410 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Hunter Rickett will anchor the offensive line which will try and open holes for returning junior running back Landon White, who also doubles as a starting linebacker, and returns as the teams’ leading tackler.

Anderson returns as WNC’s leading rusher after producing 2,031 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Breakdown:

Head coach Dee Walsh knows the success of Robbinsville’s 2018 season will come down to how quickly his young offensive and defensive line adjust to their new roles. The Black Knights must replace all five of their lineman on both sides of the ball, a tough task for any program. Jobie Garland, Chris Rabb, Candler Edwards, Josiah Phillips and Chris Shope will be tasked with the job of rebuilding the line. They do, however, return one of the best skill players in the area in junior running back Rylee Anderson and will be led under center by Landon Orr, who started as a receiver last season on offense. They also return A.J. Ornelas, Austin Lovin and Clayson Lane, who play both ways and should help bring the teams’ youth up to speed. Robbinsville will also have a new addition from South Africa in Eric Barnett, who will be the teams’ kicker.